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Learning to play the piano

INTRODUCTION TO THE KEYBOARD............................................................................................ 2 STEPPING UP ....................................................................................................................................... 2 TREBLE SPACES ................................................................................................................................. 7 BASS SPACES ....................................................................................................................................... 9 TIME SIGNATURE............................................................................................................................. 12 UP AND DOWN THE HILLS ............................................................................................................. 15 UP AND DOWN THE HILLS IN G MAJOR...................................................................................... 16 UP AND DOWN THE HILLS IN D MAJOR...................................................................................... 18 UP AND DOWN THE HILLS IN A MAJOR...................................................................................... 20 UP AND DOWN THE HILLS IN E FLAT MAJOR........................................................................... 21 DUET FOR MULTIPLE KEYBOARDS............................................................................................. 22 BUILDING A MAJOR CHORD.......................................................................................................... 24 CHORD NUMBERS AND INVERSIONS........................................................................................... 26 THE V7 (FIVE-SEVEN) CHORD ....................................................................................................... 27 CHORD PROGRESSIONS.................................................................................................................. 29 ADDING HARMONY.......................................................................................................................... 31 SKIPPING UP AND DOWN THE HILLS .................................................................................................... 32 ROCKIN' ON THE OCTAVE.................................................................................................................... 33 CLIMBING TO THE TENTH.................................................................................................................... 33 ENRICHING THE MELODY ............................................................................................................. 35 INTERVALS ........................................................................................................................................ 36

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INTRODUCTION to the KEYBOARD
The keyboard is made up of white keys with repeating patterns of black keys in groups of two and three. We use seven letters of the alphabet to make music; A,B,C,D,E,F, and G. After G, we start over again with A. Look at the group of two black keys. C will always be to the left of the two black keys. E will always be to the right of the two black keys. And D is right in the middle of the two black keys. Now look at the group of three black keys. F will always be to the left of the three black keys. B will always be to the right of the three black keys. Each key on the keyboard has a particular tone or pitch, and a certain place on the music staff. You will learn how each tone relates to a line or space, and you will be able to find it on the keyboard and combine the notes to make beautiful music.

STEPPING UP
If you do not have a musical keyboard near your computer, make a copy of the mock keyboard as directed on the first page of these lessons. It will be helpful to you in learning the keyboard. When the notes on the staff go from a line to a space or from a space to a line, we step up or down to the next note letter. In the first measure we begin with the thumb of the right hand on the red-dotted middle C (line). Step up to D (space), then to E (line). In the second measure, the third finger is on E (line). Step down to D (space), then back down to C (line). This song is written in 4/4 time which means that we count 1,2,3,4 and the black note with a stem (quarter note) gets one count. The white note with a stem (half note) gets 2 counts.

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This song begins with the thumb of the left hand on middle C. In the first measure we step down from middle C (line) to B (space) to A (line). In the second measure, the third finger is on A (line). Step up to B (space), then back up to C (line). Count 1,2,3,4 as you did in the previous song.

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G is a white note with no stem.
Begin with the thumb of the right hand on middle C with a red dot (line). First play the right hand alone. Each of these notes gets two counts. Say the names of the notes. We call this a whole note and it gets all 4 counts in 4/4 time. Then play left hand alone and say the names of the notes. Step up to D (space). up to the next key F (space) and on up to the next one. In the 6th measure we have two G's that are white notes with stems (half notes).
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. Your 5th finger (little finger) will be on G.Try this sight reading exercise. then up to E (line). G (line).

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Begin with the thumb of the left hand on middle C.
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.4 as you did in the previous songs. Count 1. the 5th finger is on F (line). Step up to G (space). In the first measure we step down from middle C (line) to B (space) to A (line). to G (space) to F (line). In the second measure.3.2. then up to A (line). Your 5th finger (little finger) is on F in the bass clef. up to B (space) and back up to middle C (line).

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You skip a letter when naming the notes.
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. This will remind you that the treble spaces spell "face".A. Here's one I use. Your teacher may use a signal to remind you of these notes.E. The distance from a space to a space is a "skip". F.E.C.A. Rotate it as if washing a window.TREBLE SPACES
The treble spaces spell the word "face" F. The first space F is the first F above middle C.C. Put your open palm in front of your face.

E.To help us remember the treble lines we say.
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. Our signal for this reminder is the American Sign Language sign for "boy".B.G. From one line to the next is a "skip". or go up.F.D. "Every Good Boy Does Fine". Touch the "bill" and move the hand down and away from the face.F. We start on the E above middle C (with a red circle) and we skip a letter name as the notes ascend. This sign for "boy" reminds us that "Every Good Boy Does Fine".G.B.D. the treble lines. Pretend you are wearing a cap with a bill on it. The names of the line notes in the treble are E.

Pretend you have a steering wheel in your hands. "All Cars Eat Gas". A.
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.G. skipping a letter name in between. Let's learn a signal.C.E. These are the bass spaces.***
BASS SPACES
We remember the bass spaces by saying. The A is the second A below middle C (circled in red).G. We "skip" from space to space. Turn the wheel as you "drive".E. the bass spaces. A.C. This will remind you that "All Cars Eat Gas".

B.F. We "skip" from line to line.A.B. This will help you to recall that "Great Big Dogs Fight Animals". G.***
The bass lines can be remembered with "Great Big Dogs Fight Animals" G.F. skipping a letter in between to find these new notes. The first line in the bass is the second G below middle C (circled in red).D.A.D. the bass lines
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. To remember the signal for the lines say "Grrr" like an angry dog.

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If the top number is 4: If the top number is 3:
If the top number is 6:
There are other meters. The bottom number tells us the kind of note that gets one count. or meter. but these are the three most common and we will be studying those signatures. tells us how to count the music. In the following examples observe that a:
a white note with no stem
a white note with a stem 12
a black note with a stem
a black note with a stem and one flag
. The top number shows how many beats to count in each measure.TIME SIGNATURE
The time signature.

A natural restores the note to its original pitch without the sharp or flat. but the sharp will be to the right of the original pitch. It may be a black or a white key. or by putting sharps or flats in the key signature which appears at the beginning of each music staff.
The next example is in 3/4 time. An eighth note gets 1 beat and a quarter note gets 2 beats.
We can raise and lower pitches by putting a sign in front of the note. In this lesson all sharps will be on the black keys. but in this lesson all flats will be black keys.This example is in 4/4 time.
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. so a dotted half gets 2+1 or 3 beats. A quarter note gets 1 beat. or it may be a white key. A sharp raises a note by one-half step (the very next key to the right). a half note gets 2 beats. a quarter note gets 1 beat and 2 eighth notes make one beat.
The third example is in 6/8 time. A whole note gets all 4 beats. It takes 2 eighth notes to make a beat. A flat lowers a note by one-half step (the very next key to the left). A dotted half gets all 6 beats (4+2=6). The raised note may be a black key. a half note 2 beats and the dot after the half adds half of the value to the count.

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Next a rhythm can be added for more enjoyment. you can move your hands up eight notes (an octave) and your teacher or your friend can play the automatic chords which are noted above the staff. You will need to place your hands in the C Major position.
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.4.2. The thumb of your right hand will be on middle C and the little finger of your left hand will be on the C below middle C. When you learn the exercise well.UP AND DOWN THE HILLS
We will learn this exercise first in the key of C Major with no sharps or flats.3. We will count 1. Start out with a metronome marking of 70 and gradually increase your speed.

but there are no F's in the song. The thumb of your right hand will be on G above middle C. In measures 11. so all the notes will be on the white keys. We will count 1. 12.
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.4. and the little finger of your left hand will be on the G below middle C. and 15 you will see the D next to middle C written as a leger line. There is one sharp in the key signature.3. When you learn the exercise well. You will need to place your hands in the G Major position. you can move your hands up eight notes (an octave) and your teacher or your friend can play the automatic chords and rhythm to accompany you.2.UP AND DOWN THE HILLS IN G MAJOR
This exercise is in the key of G Major. You find it as you step up from middle C. a line added between the treble and bass staff.

In this exercise you may circle all the B's with a pencil to remind you to flat those notes. Your first B flat will be in the second measure.4. There is one flat in the key signature.This exercise is in the key of F Major. and the little finger of your left hand will be on the F below middle C. The thumb of your right hand will be on F above middle C. you can move your hands up eight notes (an octave) and your teacher or your friend can play the automatic chords and rhythm to accompany you. We will count 1.2. You will play the black key to the left of B. and that flat is Bb. You will need to place your hands in the F Major position.3.
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. When you learn the exercise well.

You will need to place your hands in the D Major position. There are two sharps in the key signature. The thumb of your right hand will be on D above middle C. In this exercise you may circle all the F's with a pencil to remind you to sharp those notes. In this exercise the first F# is in the second measure.2. We will count 1. and the little finger of your left hand will be on the D below middle C.3. you can move your hands up eight notes (an octave) and your teacher or your friend can play the automatic chords and rhythm to accompany you.4.
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.UP AND DOWN THE HILLS IN D MAJOR
This exercise is in the key of D Major.In the key of D Major. There will be no C's. all the F's and C's will be sharped. When you learn the exercise well.

4.3. When you learn the exercise well. You will need to place your hands with the thumb of your right hand on the B flat to the left of middle C. The little finger of your left hand will be on the second B flat below middle C. and those flats are B flat and E flat.This exercise is in the key of B Flat Major. There are two flats in the key signature. This is another way to write the B next to middle C by using a leger line between the staffs. you can move your hands up eight notes (an octave) and your teacher or your friend can play the automatic chords and rhythm to accompany you. In this exercise you may circle all the B's and E's with a pencil to remind you to flat those notes. (This fingering is somewhat awkward and we will learn a better one later.2.
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.) We will count 1.

4. When you learn the exercise well. The little finger of your left hand will be on the A below middle C. and those sharps are F#. and G#.3.UP AND DOWN THE HILLS IN A MAJOR
This exercise is in the key of A Major.2. There will be notes on the leger lines between the treble and bass staffs. We will count 1. Those notes will be the D and E right above middle C. but the other two will not. C# will be used in this exercise. In this exercise you may circle all the C's with a pencil to remind you to sharp those notes.
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. you can move your hands up eight notes (an octave) and your teacher or your friend can play the automatic chords and rhythm to accompany you. C#. There are three sharps in the key signature. You will need to place your hands with the thumb of your right hand on the A above middle C.

and B's with a pencil to remind you to flat those notes. We will count 1.2. A's. When you learn the exercise well.UP AND DOWN THE HILLS IN E FLAT MAJOR
Play this exercise is in the key of E Flat Major. You will need to place your hands in the E Flat Major position. and the little finger of your left hand will be on the E flat below middle C. In this exercise you may circle all the E's. You will use all three of the flats. The thumb of your right hand will be on E flat above middle C. There are three flats in the key signature. You begin on the black key of E flat.
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.3. and they are B flat. you can move your hands up eight notes (an octave) and your teacher or your friend can play the automatic chords and rhythm to accompany you. E flat and A flat.4.

and a second part. Each student learns his/her part. Secondo (se KON doe). Primo (PRE moe). There is a first part.DUET FOR MULTIPLE KEYBOARDS
This first duet can be played on two or more keyboards. then they play the parts together. beginning slowly and gradually increasing the tempo.
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D. whole-step. and E Flat. half-step. Transpose this song to the major keys of G. A. half-step. A whole-step is made up of two half-steps. or it may be a black key. On the keyboard: A half-step is the distance from one key to the next.  whole-step. whole-step. we say we transpose the song. A Major Scale if built on a pattern of  whole-step.Can you play the same exercise in other keys? Remember how we changed our hand position and changed the key when we played "Up and Down the Hills"? When we change the key of a song. F.
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. whole-step. B Flat. It may be a white key.

2. In another lesson we will learn how to invert or turn the chords around. and with your right hand count up 4 half-steps. It doesn't matter whether that key is black or white. the chord will be space-space-space. C is the low (bottom) note of the chord. If the bottom note is on a line. A triad is made of three tones which are sounded at the same time.3).E. C#.2.1. the chord will be line-line-line.2.(third finger over) 3. D#.2.) So we start going up by half-steps. Now play the three notes together.4. (1.Study and play the C Major scale below. This is the C Major chord or triad in root position.2.3. We have gone up 4 half-steps and we are now on E. D.4. (1.G. If the bottom note is on a space.5.(thumb under) 1. G. Say the pattern of steps as you play.3. Left hand fingering: 5.2. F.1. All major chords in root position will have this pattern of 4 half-steps and 3 half-steps.
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. E.4). You are now on G and G is the top note of the triad. E is the next note of our triad. C. ( A half-step is the distance from one key to the next. In the key of C Major.3.
BUILDING A MAJOR CHORD
In this lesson you will learn to build a triad. Put your left finger on C. we will build our first triad (chord) on C. Now hold down the E with your left finger and count up 3 half-steps with your right hand. F#. Right hand fingering: 1.3.

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.Using the same pattern of 4 half-steps plus 3 half-steps. you can build major chords on any key.

G is the 5th note of the scale.G. we can change the notes around. C is the first note of the scale.CHORD NUMBERS AND INVERSIONS
We can build a major chord on each note of the scale.G chord. we call it a I (One) chord. We can use Roman numerals to mark them. We call this the first inversion of the chord. we can put the E as the bottom note and we now have E. so let's build the V (Five) chord on G. we call it a V (Five) chord. If the chord is built on the 4th note of the scale.
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. Instead of a C.C as the tones of the chord. F is the 4th note of the scale. After we build the chords in root position.E chord and this is the second inversion of the chord. we call it a IV (Four) chord. Put the G on the bottom to make a G. so we build the I (One) chord on C.E. If it is built on the 5th note of the scale. so we build the IV (Four) chord on F. If the chord is built on the first note of the scale. In C Major.C.

THE V7 (FIVE-SEVEN) CHORD
When you build a V (Five) chord in C Major. To move from the I (One) chord to the V7 (Five-seven) chord:  keep the top note the same  move the middle note up one-half step  move the bottom note down one-half step. We know that the G chord is made up of the notes G. the bottom note is G because G is the 5th note of the C Major scale. you have a nice sound for harmony. We can invert the chord and sometimes we leave out one of the tones.
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. and D. Now if you add the 7th tone of the scale. F.B.

You can now play Mary Had a Little Song using the progression you learned in this lesson. The automatic chords are written above the treble staff. then try it faster.
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. Begin ver-r-ry slowly with a metronome speed of 60. then you can add chords with your left hand. You will use the C chord to the G7 chord progression.
Learn to play the melody of this song with your right hand alone. Add a rhythm such as a ballad. The last note of the song is Low C which is 2 octaves below middle C. When you can play it well at that speed.

V7 (Five-Seven). as we learned in the previous lesson.CHORD PROGRESSIONS
In this lesson we will learn the chord progression I (One). and then with both hands. This is the IV (Four) chord (second inversion). Move the middle tone up one-half step. then with the right hand. I. Go back to the I chord in root position.A.
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. In the key of C Major.G. Now move to the V7 (Five-Seven) chord by keeping the top note in place and move the middle tone up one-half step. This is the root position. Now you are playing C.G.
Play this progression in other keys . the I (One) chord is C. This series of chords if very useful when harmonizing songs. I.F. IV (Four). Keep the bottom note where it is. First play it with the left hand. Now go back to the I chord in root position.E. and the bottom tone down one-half step. and move the top tone up two half-steps (one whole step).E. Play that chord. C.

When you can play it well at that speed. you can play the melody an octave lower beginning on middle C. then try it faster.You can now play America using the progression you learned in this lesson. Begin ver-r-ry slowly with a metronome speed of 60.
Learn to play the melody of this song with your right hand alone. Add a rhythm such as a ballad. If you like. then you can add chords with your left hand. Use correct fingering (the numbers between the treble and bass staves) and you will have a smooth melody.
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Use the three notes of the C Major triad to create an "Oom Pah" with the left hand. Oom Pah in 4/4 Time
Use this simple "Oom Pah in 4/4 Time" for many melodies.. You will learn how to use chords in different ways to harmonize in 4/4 time. You may even find new ways to add harmony to your songs. You will soon be able to tell whether you need a I (One ) chord. a IV (Four) chord. We will study some examples and then play the chords in different keys. and 6/8 time.
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. or a V7 (Five-Seven) chord to harmonize with the notes.ADDING HARMONY
There are many different ways to use chords to add harmony to a melody. 3/4 time.

Skipping Up and Down the Hills
We can use "Skipping Up and Down the Hills" in 4/4 time. Use the Major triads to play a note on each beat of the measure.
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Climbing to the Tenth
"Climbing to the Tenth" makes a nice harmony. 33
. the 5th.Rockin' on the Octave
When "Rockin' on the Octave". play the root. You could also use it in a 3/4 time. the root note an octave higher. and back to the 5th.

Try it with Happy Birthday or My Country Tis of Thee .Oom Pah Pah in 3/4 Time
Use this pattern to add harmony to songs written in 3/4 or waltz time.
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. Broken Triads in 6/8 Time
Use these broken triads to harmonize songs in 6/8 time.

Add some chords in different inversions with the melody as the top note of the chord. The quarter note will get two beats and the eighth note one beat.
Enriching the Melody
Use this method to make the melody sound fuller.
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.Oom Pah Pah in 6/8 Time
Use this pattern for 6/8 Time.

(Click on the speaker to hear the C Major scale. We refer to intervals with ordinal words such as second.)
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.2. Sing 1.INTERVALS
An interval is the distance from one tone to the next. and sing them.7. We will be learning about major intervals.8.4.3. play them.6. You will learn to hear them.5. First you need to learn to play and sing the C Major scale. third etc.

E. Mi song. FIFTH From C to G is the interval of a 5th. E is the middle tone of a major chord. Play and sing the interval of a second.I. E. This is the same tone eight notes higher. the octave is the "happy.3. THIRD From C to E is the interval of a 3rd.
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. This is a hard one to find and sing.1. You hear this interval when you sing I've been working on the Railroad Play and sing the interval of a fourth. a female deer. FOURTH From C to F is the interval of a 4th. When you are singing the Happy Birthday song and you get to the part Happy birth. SEVENTH From C to B is a 7th.day dear So-and-So. Re.E.SECOND From C to D is the interval of a 2nd. Play and sing the interval of a fifth. Practice singing a 7th. twinkle little star.E.G.5.. You can find the 6th by singing Old McDonald had a farm. This is one tone above the 5th. EIGHTH (OCTAVE) From C to C is the interval of an octave. birth-".3 . These are the first two notes when you sing Doe. and sing 1. Play and sing the interval of a sixth. a deer. Play this chord: C. Listen for this interval when you sing Twinkle. from the Do. SIXTH From C to A is the interval of a 6th. You hear the 3rd when you sing 1. I.3. Play and sing the interval of a third.C.O From "farm" to "E" is a 6th. Play and sing the interval of an octave.